On the exterior there is nothing particularly great about the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Game. Each edition presents a culturally enriched performance of what the host country would like to convey as their past, present and future. Under the carefully choreographed sea of bright lights, colourful dance numbers and celebrity appearance is just an expensive bill that will ultimately be footed by the citizens of the host nation.
People rarely replay the opening ceremonies, save for choice moments, and even those very often fail to stand the test of time. The Ceremonies are often the home of some of the most senseless spending the already economically devastating Olympics contain. They paint a political picture outlined meticulously the government. The artistic national tributes often just end up as fodder for foreign journalists, just ask Canada about the fourth arm in the Olympic torch.
But beyond the grand expression of nationalism lies the meaning that truly adds value to the Opening Ceremonies. It is a sense of beginning, a sense of pure anticipation that only comes with knowing the amount of pride, excitement and joy that is only just ahead. While a few qualifying runs may have been completed, no medals have been handed out by the time the opening ceremony is in session.
Everyone’s preconceptions of a successful Olympic Games are still potential instead of impossible. At this time all the athletes are technically equals, not divided by nationality, skill, economic or public opinion. Every dream is still attainable, and disappointment is still a figment of the future.
Furthermore, there is an undeniable sense of unity about the Opening Ceremonies. Athletes march in from countries that will otherwise remain unheard of throughout the rest of the games, usually a byproduct of their lack of athletic representation.
While only those who win, inspire, or fail on a large scale are talked about after the Olympics, every athlete is talked about before the Olympics. The games are largely individualistic, but on this day a team mentality becomes the overbearing theme and visual.
It is not simply the athletes who are united, either. Diplomats from across the globe unite in a single venue. Unlike the G20 or G8 meetings, which are largely class exclusive, the Olympics hardly discriminate upon which countries can partake. The Opening Ceremonies, unlike the G20 or other global conventions, is a celebration: the politics give way for a sense of party.
Finally, on an even more broad level, the Olympic Opening Ceremonies unite ordinary individuals from around the globe. It is likely that at least one person from every nation on the planet is tuned in to the Olympic Ceremonies, something that cannot be said for essentially any other event. It is what makes the Ceremonies so important to the host country. But it is also what makes them special: for a couple of hours the World is united in spectacle.
While the events that transpire after the ignition of the Olympic torch are what truly define the games, the hope and unity embodies in the Opening Ceremonies truly encompasses the Olympic spirit.
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